FIFA has released the shortlist of nominees for The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024, which will honour the top players in another exciting year of women’s and men’s football at both club and national team levels.
Zambia and Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda, who recently won the 2024 BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award and is ranked 12th in the Ballon d’Or, has made the Women’s Player of the Year shortlist.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has been nominated in the men’s category, along with Vinicius Jr., Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé, and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.
Voting is open on FIFA.com and will be equally weighted among fans, current captains and coaches of women’s and men’s national teams, and media representatives.
FIFA has also added a new category for the best goal of the year in women’s football, named after Brazilian legend and six-time World Cup champion Marta. The award will be known as the FIFA Marta Award, which is equivalent to the FIFA Puskás Award. Fans and a panel of FIFA Legends will vote for the two awards in equal numbers.
According to FIFA, Fans will also have their say in selecting The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11. They will be able to choose from a list of 77 nominated players—22 defenders, midfielders, and forwards apiece, plus 11 goalkeepers—slotting them into one of several preset tactical formations to build their team. Votes will be weighted equally between fans and an expert panel.
BELOW ARE THE NOMINEES
The Best FIFA Women’s Player nominees
- Aitana Bonmatí (Spain), Barcelona
- Barbra Banda (Zambia), Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride
- Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway), Barcelona
- Keira Walsh (England), Barcelona
- Khadija Shaw (Jamaica), Manchester City
- Lauren Hemp (England), Manchester City
- Lindsey Horan (USA), Olympique Lyonnais
- Lucy Bronze (England), Barcelona/Chelsea
- Mallory Swanson (USA), Chicago Red Stars
- Mariona Caldentey (Spain), Barcelona/Arsenal
- Naomi Girma (USA), San Diego Wave
- Ona Batlle (Spain), Barcelona
- Salma Paralluelo (Spain), Barcelona
- Sophia Smith (USA), Portland Thorns
- Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Paris Saint-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais
- Trinity Rodman (USA), Washington Spirit
The Best FIFA Men’s Player nominees
- Dani Carvajal (Spain), Real Madrid
- Erling Haaland (Norway), Manchester City
- Federico Valverde (Uruguay), Real Madrid
- Florian Wirtz (Germany), Bayer Leverkusen
- Jude Bellingham (England), Real Madrid
- Kylian Mbappé (France), Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid
- Lamine Yamal (Spain), Barcelona
- Lionel Messi (Argentina), Inter Miami
- Rodri (Spain), Manchester City
- Toni Kroos (Germany), Real Madrid (now retired)
- Vinícius Jr (Brazil), Real Madrid
The Best FIFA Women’s Coach nominees
- Arthur Elias (Brazil), Brazil
- Elena Sadiku (Sweden), Celtic
- Emma Hayes (England), Chelsea/USA
- Futoshi Ikeda (Japan), Japan
- Gareth Taylor (England), Manchester City
- Jonatan Giráldez (Spain), Barcelona/Washington Spirit
- Sandrine Soubeyrand (France), Paris FC
- Sonia Bompastor (France), Olympique Lyonnais/Chelsea
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach nominees
- Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), Real Madrid
- Lionel Scaloni (Argentina), Argentina
- Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Spain
- Pep Guardiola (Spain), Manchester City
- Xabi Alonso (Spain), Bayer Leverkusen
The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper nominees
- Alyssa Naeher (USA), Chicago Red Stars
- Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Chelsea/NJ/NY Gotham
- Ayaka Yamashita (Japan), INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester City
- Cata Coll (Spain), Barcelona
- Mary Earps (England), Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain
The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper nominees
- Andriy Lunin (Ukraine), Real Madrid
- David Raya (Spain), Arsenal
- Ederson (Brazil), Manchester City
- Emiliano Martínez (Argentina), Aston Villa
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Paris Saint-Germain
- Mike Maignan (France), AC Milan
- Unai Simón (Spain), Athletic Club
Voting is open on FIFA.com until 23:59 CET on Tuesday, 10 December 2024.
READ MORE: FAZ reacts to “race-tinged” attacks against Barbra Banda